Steve Jobs’ death sparks online scams

The death of Steve Jobs sent shockwaves through the tech world yesterday, with millions of fans descending upon the blogosphere and social networks to pay their respects to the Apple co-founder.

But even as some continue to pay tribute to Jobs and express their sympathies for his family, others are exploiting the event for personal gain.

According to recent reports from TrendLabs and Ubergizmo, scammers are already taking advantage of Jobs' death to collect personal information from unsuspecting Internet users. One scam, a website with the URL stevejobsfuneral.com, lures people with the chance to win a MacBook Pro.

The website claims to include information about Jobs' life, including photos and video from his funeral. Underneath a short tribute to Jobs is an invitation to win one of 15 MacBook Pros, supposedly being given away in his memory. Ubergizmo noted that the site doesn't seem to contain any malware or Trojans, but users are asked to enter their email addresses, which could presumably be used for spam.

Such scams have become fairly common in recent years. Cybercriminals and others prey on unsuspecting users in search of information on recent events. Other incidents that have generated such activity this year include the September 11 anniversary, the death of Osama bin Laden and the marriage of Prince William and Catherine Middleton.

There are several signs a user should look out for when browsing information on recent events. The most evident is the URL. It is recommended that users first turn to reputable websites with which they are familiar. Additionally, the site's design can be a telltale sign. As is the case with stevejobsfuneral.com, the site is clearly designed by amateurs, indicating that it is less than legitimate.

Antivirus software and common sense can also reduce the odds of exploitation. Users should be leery of any links they click related to Jobs' death, but they should also be equipped with the right software should a mishap occur.